Drilling Valve Holes

steelo
steelo Posts: 542
edited November 2007 in MTB workshop & tech
Is it okay to drill out a presta valve hole to take a schraeder valve?

The wheel is a DT Swiss XR4.2D.

What would be a safe drill bit size? I'm guessing the smallest possible, and I know it will void the warranty on the wheel.
Specialized Rockhopper '07
Trek Fuel EX8 '09

Comments

  • scotttomo
    scotttomo Posts: 531
    Can i ask why your doin this?
    "If i was a slug i don't think i could handle it, i'd just throw myself in the salt pot" -Karl pilkington

    Whyte 46, i fall off it alot!!
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    some are ok to drill others are not. ask DT.

    some rims can not be drilled without weakening them.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Drfabulous0
    Drfabulous0 Posts: 1,539
    Why not just use a presta valve?
    <center><font><b>My Scott</b></font></center>
    <center><font><b>My Kinesis</b></font></center>
  • steelo
    steelo Posts: 542
    I had a replacement wheel sent to me by specialized and as it was a DT Swiss rim it had a hole for a Presta valve. I currently only have Schraeder valve inner tubes and as the replacement wheel was far superior to my original wheel I wanted to keep it. Therefore to use it immediately without buying new tubes I had the option of drilling it out to take the larger schraeder valve.

    However, I now have a matching front wheel being built and I am going to switch to using Presta valve inner tubes.
    Specialized Rockhopper '07
    Trek Fuel EX8 '09
  • artillerydave
    artillerydave Posts: 715
    i have DT 455 rims and have drilled them out to take schrader valves with no problems, reason because i hate presta valves!!
  • rick76
    rick76 Posts: 10
    i also hate those stupid fiddly presta valves i have got mavic rims and drilled out the hole to take a shraeder it has had a hole drilled already a hole three millimeters wont affect the strength that much i have had the wheels for five years now and they are still true and i use them for dh / dj / ns . oh and the rims are mavic 771.
    Rick Lankshear
  • jacktheoc
    jacktheoc Posts: 1,556
    i have done it a few times but instead used a file so shave it down :!:

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